130 Syrians leave Turkey for terror-liberated homeland

By Gokhan Yilmaz</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Some 130 Syrians living in Istanbul have left Turkey to return to their hometowns liberated from terrorists in Turkey’s anti-terror operations.</p> <p>The Syrians, who fled the internal conflict in their country and sought refuge in Turkey, had applied to Esenyurt District Governorate and collected necessary documents to return to terror-free homeland.</p> <p>An organization of Esenyurt Municipality and Directorate General of Migration Management provided the Syrians with busses for their journey back to their homes.</p> <p>Esenyurt Mayor Ali Murat Alatepe told reporters that returns to Syria have gained momentum after the region became more secure following two successful cross-border Turkish operations into Syria since 2016 — Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch operations — to eradicate the presence of YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorists near Turkey’s borders.</p> <p>Alatepe said that the municipality helped some 4,200 Syrians to return to their hometowns.</p> <p>Syrian families, expressing happiness of returning to their motherland, thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish people.</p> <p>On Saturday, Turkish Interior Ministry said that nearly 300,000 Syrians returned to their homes after the Turkish military conducted the successful operations in the region.